2023 GJNC Preview: 18 Open – Skyline 18 Royal

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club volleyball season is coming to an end for the players competing in the 18s age group and the final stop in this stage of their careers will take place at the 2022 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championship, which will be held in Columbus, Ohio, from April 28-30.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Texas will have a huge representation in Ohio, with as many as 44 teams entered to compete across six different divisions and many of them will be real contenders at the National Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already posted our Texas Previews for each of the 18 American, 18 Freedom, 18 Liberty, 18 National and 18 USA divisions and now we'll do things a little bit differently for the prestigious 18 Open division, presenting individual previews for the eight teams from the Lone Star State that will fight for the title in Columbus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Skyline 18 Royal</em> </strong>– Skyline Juniors (Plano)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Season Record (on AES):</strong> 35-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/CpbLn6JPXiJ/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/CpbLn6JPXiJ/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141140"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Kelley has had a meteoric rise in our 2023 Prep Dig State Rankings, first earning a spot in the list around 14 months ago and now ranking in 14th place. Extremely athletic and powerful, she's getting better and using her unparallelled physical tools to her favor and has grown into one o the most lethal hitters in her age group in the entire state. Everything in her offense is done with a lot of intensity, from her approach to making contact with the ball, and including her jump. Expect Kelley to be one of the strong hitters in the entire event and her Skyline 18 Royal team to feed her the ball a lot, especially in critical moments.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca27015"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14159527/6417a2a44ba8060440ee5abe' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca2706f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["153291"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Gonzalez joined Skyline this season coming from Madfrog and made of what was already a strong team an even better one. Her length and efficiency fit perfectly at the net for this team and the middle has immediately become one of its key players. Extremely dominant, Gonzalez is one of a kind when it comes to middles as very few have her ability to take over matches. She's a very strong offensive player, who can score against anyone, and also causes a big impact with her blocking. Gonzalez has won multiple state titles with Lovejoy and her experience in how to win is one of the invaluable assets she brings to the court.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca270d8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13019178/64068ac24bb2a80af823c6e5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca270f9"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141131"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Skyline were able to snatch not only one, but two of the most talented players in the region, getting Gooch from Drive Nation. Recognized as one the best right side hitters in the entire state, she has been providing them an interesting option on the right as a player who can score at a good rate and block at an even higher level. Goooch is lethal when hitting a quicker set on the right as she often snaps the ball straight down. When out of system, she'll make sure to fully stretch her arms in order to beat the blocker with her excellent reach. Her long arms play a factor in her blocking too, but it's her excellent timing and reading that make of her the beast she is at the net.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca27155"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13096471/6415300bf31c80096077d31f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca27175"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141132"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A very complete and efficient player, Busey, who also came from Madfrog, has fit in nicely playing opposite to Kelley. A player who makes a big impact on both sides of the ball, she is particularly impressive on offense as she can really unload her power when in system, but also has the skills and the intelligence to look for creative solutions when off the net. Busey is also a very technical player on the backcourt, handling extremely well her passing and defensive duties with Skyline 18 Royal.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca271cb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18905025/6417a12a4ba8060440ee58d9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca271ea"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141139"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With so many talented hitters, it would be a shame if Skyline 18 Royal didn't have a setter of the same caliber, but that's certainly not an issue with Kreck running the offense for them. A long and very technical player, she makes intelligent and creative decisions with her distribution, setting her hitters different balls and keeping opposing blockers guessing.  Kreck is also a very talented defensive player, who generates several transition opportunities to her team from her right back position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca2723f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/4552111/64162dcd32dc1407f0e27981' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6441c5ca27261"} /-->